Identifying Novel Therapeutic Opportunities for Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Bioinformatics Approach to Drug Repositioning and Herbal Medicine Prediction

Background: Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a debilitating cardiovascular disorder that challenges current therapeutic strategies. The exploration of novel drug repositioning opportunities through gene expression analysis offers a promising avenue for discovering effective treatments. Objective: This study aims to identify potential drug repositioning opportunities and lead compounds for DCM treatment by optimizing gene expression characteristics using published data. Methods: Our approach involved analyzing DCM expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and identifying differentially expressed genes with GEO2R. A protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape. Enrichment analyses were conducted on these genes through the Omicshare platform, followed by the identification of candidate compounds via the Connectivity Map (CMAP) and validation through molecular docking. The Coremine Medical database was utilized to predict potential herbal medicines. Results: We identified 29 differentially expressed genes, highlighting MYH6, NPPA, and NPPB as central to DCM pathology. Enrichment analyses indicated significant impacts on biological processes, such as organ morphogenesis and inflammatory responses. The AGE-RAGE signaling pathway was notably affected. From over 6,100 compounds analyzed, tenoxicam emerged as a promising candidate, with Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Danshen) being suggested as a potential herbal treatment. Conclusion: This study underscores the utility of bioinformatics in uncovering new therapeutic candidates for DCM, offering a foundational step towards novel drug development.